Headlight dimmer



July 5, 1932. P. E. WOODROFFE HEADLIGHT DIMMER Filed Jan. 6, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet July 5, 1932;

P. E. WOQDRDEFE HEADLIGHT DIMMER Filed Jan. 6, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented July 5, 1932 Jenna's- ERNEST woona'orrs; on persons. ivnoiirean 'HEA'DBIGHT DIM-MER Application filed Januar a, 1931: Serial in). 506,956.

This inventwn-appermins to new and use ful improvementsin dimmers, a'ndmore'par ticularly in dimmers especially adapted for use in automobileheadlights;

5 The principal objectof the invention lsto provide a headlight dimmer wherein the dimming device is installedentire'ly with n the headlight, so as to not detract from the v external appearance'oftheheadlight same:

if) ture.

Another important object of the invent-ion is to provide a dimmer for headlights which will greatly reduce glarewithout sacrificing any appreciable amount of the light power.

These and other important objec'ts and advantages of the inventionwillbecome an parent to the reader of the following specification and claims.

1111 the drawings Figure 1 represents a front elevational view of a headlight equipped with the novel dimmer.

Fig. 2 represents a Vertical sectional View taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 represents a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 represents a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken substantially on the line v p H of Fig. 1.

30 Fig. 5 represents a perspective view of the slats.

Fig. 6 represents a perspective view of one of the slat retainers. Referring to the drawings wherein like 35 numerals designate like parts, it can be seen that numeral 5 denotes the usual headlight casing, within which the parabolic reflector 6 is mounted. Numeral 7 represents the usual headlight bulb supported in the lamp 9' socket 8. The rim 9 is of conventional construction and serves in the usual manner to support the lens 10 in the frcnt of the reflector 6.

In carrying out the present invention, a

pair of slat retainers generally referred to by numerals 1111 is provided for supporting the slats 12. Each slat 12 is provided at each end with an opening 13 for receiving the intermediate portion 14 of a supporting 59 element 15. Each ofthe supporting elements 15 has a straight intermediate portion for. traversing the slats, and an obliquely dis posed portion at each end thereoflthe our ward end of each'oblique' portion being provided with a hookfor engaging through an opening in the aforementioned reflector 6, and to abut the outer side of the reflector iii" the manner shown at 16in Fig. 45. 7

Each of'the retainers 11 consists of a plate 17 provided withlatera lly' disposed end portfo'ns 18, each of which end portionsis' provided' with an opening 19 for receiving-the aforementioned straight intermediate portion 14 of the corresponding support 15. Each of the plates 17 is provided with" rectangular-shaped 'opening 20, and as'is clearly shown in Fig. 6', the longitudinal edges of the rectangular-shaped opening 20 is pro} vided with notches21 into which the longi t'udinal edge oraons of the slats 12 are engageable whereby the slats are mounted in spaced relationship; v I It can now be seen that light'j passing through the dimmer composed of theaforementioned slats 12 will be substantially dif fused so that'tlie glare will beamplydisst pated. 4 It willbe obvious that by the'a1rangen1erit recitedthe slats are mounted in spaced re la tion to the lens of the headlight in a nonrattling secure mannerinstead of being di rectlycontacted with the lens orbeing supported entirely free of the lens, and that the supportsmaintain the slat assembly properlyp'ressed against'thelens rather than merely' suspend it in a manner subject to unde-j sirablevibr'ation. v V e While. the foregoing specification sets forth the invention in specific terms, it is to be understoodthat'numerous changes in-the shape, size and materialsma y' be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of tlieinvention' as claimed hereinafter.

Having thus described my invention, wliat'- [claim as new-is: V

1. A dimmer for headlights comprisinga pair of vertically spaced retainers, support} ing means for the retainers, vertical parallel slats interposed between the said retainers, said retainers being provided with rectangular-shaped openings for receiving the end portions of the slats, the edges of the openings being provided with notches into which the edge portions of the slats are engaged and retained in uniform spaced relation.

2. A dimmer attachment for headlights comprising a pair of vertically spaced retainers, a support for each retainer, a plurality of vertical slats secured by and between said retainers in parallel relation, each of said retainers comprising atransverse plate having an opening provided with notches in two opposite edges for receiving the edges of the slats, whereby to space the slats, and a portion of said support projected through the plate and through the ends of the slats whereby to anchor the slats in the retainer and con nect the support thereto.

3. A dimmer attachment for headlights comprising a pair of vertically spaced trans verse retainers, a support for each retainer disposed outwardly thereof, a plurality of vertical slats secured by and between said retainers in parallel spaced relation, each of said retainers comprising a plate having an opening therein provided with pairs of opposed notches in opposite edges thereon for receiving the edges of the slats, and each of said. supports consisting of a substantially U-shaped bar disposed with the legs thereof engaged with the reflector of the headlight and the bight portion thereof passed through openings in the associated retainer and the ends of the slats therein, so as to be connected with the retainer and anchor the slats in the retainers.

4. A dimmer attachment for a headlight comprising a pair of vertically spaced transverse retainers, a support for each retainer connected to the headlight, a plurality of vertical slats secured by and between said retainers in parallel spaced relation, each of said retainers comprising a plate having an opening provided with pairs of opposed notches in opposite edges each pair being adapted for receiving the opposite edges of a slat, and each of said supports consisting of a substantially U-shaped bar disposed with the legs thereof engaged with the reflector of the headlight and the bight portion thereof passed through openings in the associated retainer and the ends of the slats therein so as to carry the retainer and anchor the slats therein. and a lateral flange at each end of the said plates provided with a hole for receiving the bight portion of the associated support, and a hole in each end of said slats for receiving the bight portion of the support whereby to anchor the slats in the retainers.

5. A dimmer attachment for a headlight having a lens and a reflector, comprising, a pair of vertically spaced, transversely arranged retainers, a support for each retainer connected outward of the retainers to the refiector, a plurality of transversely parallelly spaced slats held between said retainers in parallel spaced relationship with the lens, said retainers being engaged with the inward surface of the lens, whereby said slats are car- 1 ried in spaced relation to the lens without vibration.

6. A dimmer attachment for a headlight having a lens and a reflector, comprising, a pair of vertically spaced, transversely arranged retainers, a support for each retainer connected outward of the retainers to the reflector, a plurality of transversely parallelly spaced slats held between said retainers in parallel spaced relationship with the lens, said retainers being engaged with the inward surface of the lens, whereby said slats are carried in spaced relation to the lens without vibration, each of said retainers comprising a plate having an out-turned flange at each end provided with an opening, said plate having another opening two opposite edges of which are provided with pairs of opposed notches, each pair of notches being adapted to receive the opposite side edges of a slat, said supports having a portion passed through the openings in the flanges of the retainers and through an opening in each plate whereby to connect the support to the associated retainer and anchor the plates therein. In testimony whereof I aflixmy signature. PERCY ERNEST VVOODROFFE. 

